According to the organisation in a press release made available to The Point, it stands in solidarity with the community of Manduar village, West Coast Region, regarding recent events in the Koto Bali Community Forest.
The organisation went on to say that reports of illegal land sales within the forest prompted concerned youths to lodge complaints with the authorities.
“Regrettably, these youths, acting in defense of their heritage, now face incarceration. Allegations suggest that influential figures have purchased land within the forest, leading to deforestation for personal gain,” it said.
“Beakanyang, in collaboration with Manduar village and its youths, fervently urges the immediate release of these individuals and the unconditional dismissal of all charges against them. We stand united in defense of the Koto Bali Community Forest and its invaluable contributions to the ecosystem,” it further said.
It commended the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources for initiating an internal inquiry into the matter. It also called on the Gambia Police Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the illegal land transactions.
